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Consider (source):

At that moment Francisco Pizarro came onto the scene. A native of Spain, he was sojourning in Panama when he heard of the riches to be found in that far off land.

My Question: How should I construe "riches to be found"?

I analyzed this sentence as:

  1. He heard of riches that people were to find.
  2. He heard of riches to be found (by people).

Am I right? Does it a furtive "to+infinitive"? I am wondering what is the difference if we say

He was sojourning in Panama when he heard of the riches being found in that far off land.

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he heard of the riches to be found in that far off land

"riches to be found" implies that there should be riches, but they were not found yet. Same idea as:

I heard that the lottery has money to be won.

I just haven't won any so far.

he heard of the riches being found in that far off land.

implies the riches were already found, or at least someone said so.

I heard of the lottery being won by my ex. Tough luck.

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